Feeding of groups of articles



Nov. 16, 1965 J. 5. BARTLO ETAL 3,217,859

FEEDING OF GROUPS OF ARTICLES Filed Jan. 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 uoH/v s. BARTLO [DMUND 5. 1.55 122 BY 56 a 43104.2 m 17 5 Nov. 16, 1965 J. 5. BARTLO ETAL 3,217,859

I FEEDING OF GROUPS ARTICLES Filed Jan. 2, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :El Ji'l- INVENTOR$ uoH/v 5. BARTLO .ezvwuxvo 5. LEE 127 BY 61 4,7141 awnyf United States Patent 3,217,859 FEEDING 0F GRUUPS OF ARTICLES John S. Bartlo, Longmeadow, and Edmund d. Lee ll],

Wilbraham, Mass, assignors to Package Machinery Company, East Longmeadow, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,110 10 Claims. (Cl. 198-34) of the foremost article in the line. A second conveyor is aligned with the first conveyor and has spaced lugs movable along a closed path, a portion of which is upwardly inclined and spaced from the latch means a predetermined distance such that the leading face of each lug upon reaching the level of the first conveyor is spaced from the latch means a distance somewhat greater than the combined widths of a plurality of the articles. Each lug will therefore engage the trailing face of an article to the rear of the foremost article and advance the desired plurality of articles past the latch means as a group.

Preferably means are provided which are actuated upon the line of articles being reduced below a given length. When these means are actuated, restraining means are operated to displace articles on the first conveyor to a position spaced from the path of travel of the lugs of the second conveyor to prevent advance of articles thereby and thus to insure that whenever the feed mechanism is operative, groups of articles segregated by the second conveyor will comprise the desired given number.

The above and other related objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawings and the novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a feed mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagrammatical view of electrical and pneumatic circuits employed herein;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of another modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of an alternate embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the mechanism seen in FIG. 7.

Common to each of the illustrated embodiments is a first conveyor 10 and a second conveyor 12. The first conveyor 10 comprises one or more, and preferably two, endless belts 14, each trained around a continuously driven pulley 16. The belts 14 are each trained around appropriate idler pulleys (not shown) at the opposite or infeed end of the conveyor 10. Fixed rails 18 are provided to support the upper runs of the belts 14. Side guides 19 are spaced apart on opposite sides of the conveyors 10 and 12 a distance approximating the length of articles a which are fed to the conveyor 10.

The articles a are advanced by the conveyor 10 to a pair of latches 20 which engage the leading face of the 3,217,859 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 ice foremost article as a line of abutting articles is built up on the conveyor 10. The latches are pivotally mounted on studs 22 and are yieldingly maintained in their obstructive or restraining positions by springs 24.

The conveyor 12 preferably comprises a single endless chain 26 disposed centrally of the articles and the two belts 14. The chain 26 is trained around a sprocket 28 and has a plurality of lugs 30 mounted in spaced relation along its length. The conveyors 10 and 12 are, in part, coextensive with the lugs 30 moving along an upwardly inclined path in this coextensive portion as the chain 26 advances from the sprocket 28 to an idler sprocket 32.

The drawings illustrate a condition wherein there is an insufficient supply of articles on the conveyor 10 and certain articles are displaced to prevent their being fed by the second conveyor 12. However, in normal operation, as each successive lug 30 of the conveyor 12 moves along this upwardly inclined path, between the sprockets 28 and 32, it will raise the fourth article spaced to the rear of the latches 20 and then positively engage the trailing face of the third article therebehind. The group of articles comprising the first three articles in the line of abutting articles, will be advanced by the lug 36), as the latches are forced open against the action of the springs 24. The articles thus separated will then be advanced by the lugs 30 to a wrapping machine and wrapped as a group, or advanced to other means where they may be handled as a group.

It will be apparent that the relative position of the latches 20 and the path of travel of the lugs 30 may be adjusted in accordance with the width of the articles to separate groups of any desired number. Most conveniently the latches 20 are longitudinally adjustable so that the path of travel of the lugs 30 will engage the trailing face of the last article in the desired group.

The conveyor lugs 30 move at a rate faster than that of the belts 14 so that the latches 20 will swing back into obstructive relation to again position the line of abutting articles in predetermined relation to the path of travel of a subsequent lug 30, after each group of articles has been separated. It is also preferable that the rate of advance of the conveyor belts 14 be approximately 7-12% greater than the combined widths of the articles in a given group during the time required for each cycle of operation of the lugs 30 in order to assure an even how of articles.

It will be apparent that should there be only two articles positioned behind the latches 20, a lug 30 would nonetheless advance this group of two articles to the wrapping machine or whatever other device that is receiving the groups of articles. A group of articles short in number, could cause a malfunction in the wrapping machine, or require some subsequent check to assure that the proper number of articles were in the group. To overcome this possibility, the various embodiments of the invention illustrate means for preventing advance of articles by the conveyor 12 in the event that the length of the line of abutting articles is reduced below a given point which is indicated by actuation of a detector switch 34.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 a platform 36, normally lying below the level of belts 14, is pivotally mounted at 38 on each of the two rails 18. Each platform is provided with means for lifting one end thereof which comprise an air motor 40 pivotally connected at one end to a fixed plate 42 by pin 44. The piston rod 45 of air motor 40 is pivotally connected at 46 to one end of a bell crank 48. The bell crank 48 is pivotally mounted on pin 50, secured to the rail 18, and has its other end connected by a pin 52 to the outer end of the platform 36.

Upon actuation of the switch 34, i.e. when an absence of articles allows its arm 35 to rise, its contacts are closed to complete an electrical circuit which controls a fourway solenoid valve 51 having conventional pneumatic connections for simultaneously actuating the air motors 40 to project the piston rods 45 thereof. It is preferable that actuation of the air motors 46 be accurately timed to the movement of the lugs 30 and for this purpose solenoid valve 52 is energized through contacts c of a relay 53. A timing switch 54 is connected in series with the switch 34 and relay 53 and is controlled by cam 56 on the same shaft as the sprocket 25. Switch 54 will be momentarily closed by cam 56 to energize relay 53 at the exact time it is desired to actuate the air motors 40. Contacts c of relay 53 are connected in parallel with switch 54 to maintain relay 53 energized and air motors 4i actuated, once the switches 34 and 54 have been simultaneously closed.

Upon actuation of the motors 40, the fourth article (and any other articles on the platforms 36) behind the latches 20 is raised upwardly above the path of advance of the conveyor lugs 39. A pair of downwardly projecting studs 53 which project from bars 60 secured to angle pieces 62, are mounted on the side rails 19. The studs 58 prevent the leading article on the platforms 36 from being pushed off these platforms by the feeding pressure from other articles on the belts 16. This minimizes the length required for the platforms 36.

The platforms 36 must be raised at a time when the fourth package will be retained thereon, which would be before a lug 30 has advanced a group of articles a distance such that the fourth article will not be so retained without damage, and preferably at substantially this precise time. Cam 56 closes the contacts of switch 54 at this desired time.

As further articles are fed to the conveyor 10, the switch 34 will be momentarily opened as the arm 35 is depressed, while individual articles pass thereover. It is desirable to prevent further feeding of groups of articles until the line of articles has been completely filled in back to the switch 34. The relay 53 for this reason is a delayed opening type of relay of conventional construction. Thus, the switch 34 must be opened for a period of time greater than that caused by a single article depressing the arm 35 in order that the relay 53 will be deenergized.

It is also preferable that the relay 53 be deenergized in proper timed relation to the advance of the conveyor lugs 30 so that retraction of the piston rods 45 will lower the platforms 36 at a time such that the line of articles will again be properly positioned by the latches 20 when the next lug 30 moves upwardly to separate a group of articles. To accomplish this end, a second timing switch 64 is provided which is electrically connected in parallel with the switch 34. The switch 64 is normally closed and is momentarily opened by a cam 65 which is secured to the same shaft as the sprocket 32. Thus, after the switch 34 has been opened for a time sufiicient to indicate the line of articles has been built up to the required length, the switch 64 also opens to deenergize the relay 53 at the proper time.

Upon deactuation of the relay 53, the motors 40 are also deactuated, causing retraction of the piston rods 45. The platforms 36 are lowered and springs 66 urge the leading article on the platform downwardly from the abutment 58 to facilitate immediate advance of the arti cles toward the latches 20 for continued operation of the separating devices, as previously described.

The embodiment seen in FIG. 4 represents a modification of the feeding device previously described in that a flat plate 69 is substituted for the studs 58. Insofar as feeding groups of articles is concerned, the operation is the same. When there is an interruption in the supply of articles, the switch 34 is again closed, causing actuation of the air motors 40. Upon such actuation the platforms 36 are raised to clamp the leading article thereon against the plates 69. When the line of articles builds up to the desired length, the platforms 36 are lowered and the line of articles advances to the latches 20, continuing operation of the feeding device.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is a further modification of the embodiments just described. The means for preventing advance of the leading article on the platforms 36 when they are raised, comprises a movable plate 70 which is threadably attached to the piston rod 7?. of an air motor 74. The cylinder of the air motor 74- is secured to a cross bar 76 which is clamped in a vertically adjustable position on posts 78, the latter being secured to fixed frame member 79. A guide plate 80 is secured to the cross bar 76, straddles the air motor 74, and depends downwardly into lapping relation with the movable stop plate 70 to provide a bearing surface for the stop plate and also to prevent rotation thereof.

The air motor 74 is connected in parallel with the air motors 44b for simultaneous actuation therewith in response to operation of the solenoid valve 51 (FIG. 3). In normal operation of the machine the stop plate 70 is retracted to its phantom position and groups of articles are separated past the latches 2%) by the lugs 34) in the manner previously described.

When the line of abutting articles is diminished so as to cause the switch 34 to open, the relay 53 is again actuated in proper timed relation to cause the air motors 40 to raise the platforms 36 and additionally to simultaneously actuate the air motor 74 displacing the movable stop plate 70 to its illustrated full line position. The stop plate 70 thus prevents advance of the articles beyond the platforms 36 when they are so raised to thereby prevent further feeding of the articles by the conveyor lugs 30.

After the line of articles has been built up to the proper length, relay 53 is deenergized in proper timed relation, as previously described, causing the piston rods of motors 40 and 74 to be retracted. The stop plate 70 is thus raised simultaneously with the platforms 36 being lowered. The provision of the movable stop plate 70 prevents an article from being hung up as a result of feeding pressure from the line of articles caused by the belts 14 which might otherwise maintain the leading article in engagement with the stop stud when the platforms 36 are lowered. The springs 66 further facilitate return of the articles to the belts 14 so that the line of articles will be immediately advanced toward and positioned by the latches 20 for subsequent feeding of groups of articles by the next successive lug 30.

It will also be noted that the leading article on the elevated platforms 36 has actually advanced beyond the leading edges of the platforms as a result of feeding pressure by the belts 14 on articles therebehind. The movable plate 70 is positioned outwardly from the free ends of the platforms 36 the maximum distance permissible without permit-ting the leading article to fall therefrom; such distace being approximately half the width of an individual article. With this arrangement, the line of articles has less distance to travel to be properly positioned by the latches 20 when the platforms 36 are lowered. This relationship is particularly advantageous in obtaining maximum rates of operation and in minimizing the criticality of the timed relationship between the advance of the articles to the latches 2i and the advance of the lugs 30.

The embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrates the use of a pair of platforms 86 (only one is shown) between each belt 14- and the adjacent side guide 19, to prevent feeding of articles by the second conveyor 12 when there is an insuflicient number of articles on the conveyor 10 to assure feeding of the proper number of articles for each group.

The platforms have a longitudinal extent sufficient to raise at least the number of articles comprising a group as the line of articles is positioned by the latches 20. The platforms 86 are mounted on an elevator post $8 which is. slidably journaled for reciprocable motion and connected :at its lower end to the piston rod 90 of an air motor 92. The platforms 86 may either be extensible or change parts may be employed to accommodate groups of articles of varying width.

In normal operation, the platforms 86 are lowered to a position underlying the conveyor belts 14 permitting groups of articles to be advanced past the latches 20 by the lugs 30, as previously described. A diminution of the length of the line of abutting articles is again detected by the switch 34 which is incorporated in substantially the same electrical circuit as shown in FIG. 3 with the exception that the air motors 40 are replaced by the air motors 92. Further, the cams 56 and 65 may be adjusted so as to actuate the switches 54 and 64 at appropriate times in the cycle of operation to cause the elevator platforms 86 to raise the articles thereabove, preferably immediately before the last article of a group positioned by the latches 20 would be engaged by a lug 30.

Thus, once the switch 34 is actuated, the air motors 92 will displace the platforms 86 upwardly to the illustrated full line position of FIG. 7 permitting the lugs 30 to pass therebeneath.

The remaining articles on the conveyor 10 may be prevented from further advance by engagement with the trailing article on the elevator platforms 86, or they may be maintained in such position by depending aprons 94 on the elevator platforms 86 which also serves to space the articles remaining on the conveyor 10 rearwardly of the elevated articles to facilitate return of the raised articles to the belts 14 when the elevator platforms 86 are lowered. The aprons 94 provide, in effect, camming surfaces which will displace the frictionally advanced articles on the conveyor 10 to obtain the desired spacing.

When the length of the line of articles on the conveyor 10 is sufficient to depress the switch arm 35 and open the contacts of the switch 34 for a time sufficient to deenergize the solenoid valve 51, air motors 92 will be deactuated in the same fashion as air motors 40, explained earlier in connection with FIG. 3. The platforms 86 will be lowered and the articles thereon will be returned to a position for being fed by the next subsequent lug 30. Springs 96 may also be provided to further assist return of the elevated articles to a feeding position when the platforms 86 are lowered.

Various modifications of the embodiments herein described will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the scope of the inventive concepts is to be derived solely from the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Article feeding mechanism comprising a first conveyor for frictionally advancing a line of abutting articles, latch means restraining advance of the foremost article of said line, a second conveyor aligned with the first conveyor and having spaced lugs movable along a closed path, a portion of which is upwardly inclined for engagement of a lug with the trailing face of an article spaced to the rear of said foremost article to separate the group of articles between it and the foremost article from other articles on the first conveyor and advance said group past said latch means, the rate of travel of said lugs being substantially greater than the rate of advance of said first conveyor, means for detecting a diminution in the line of abutting articles on said first conveyor below a point sufficient to insure separation of the given number of articles in a group past said latch means, means responsive to a sensing of said detector means for displacing remaining articles on the first conveyor outwardly of the path of travel of said conveyor lugs a distance sufficient to prevent the lugs from engaging the trailing face of such articles to thereby prevent advance of less than the given number of articles in a group past said latch means and means for returning said articles to a position for feeding further groups of articles when the line of articles has again reached a proper length.

2. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the displacing means comprise means for lifting the article next succeeding said group of articles above the path of travel of said lugs in combination with means restraining its advance towards said latches.

3. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 2 wherein the lifting means comprises pivotally mounted platform means which are raised to lift at least the leading end of said next succeeding article from said first conveyor and which are lowered to return the articles for the feeding of further groups.

4. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 3 wherein the restraining means comprises a plate normally spaced above the line of articles and against which the article is clamped by said platform means.

5. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 3 wherein the restraining means comprises an abutment member being so spaced longitudinally to prevent said next succeeding article from being advanced beyond said platform means.

6. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 5 wherein the abutment member is longitudinally spaced beyond the free end of the platform means a distanceapproximating half of the width of an individual article.

7. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 5 wherein means are provided for moving the abutment member into its obstructive position upon the platform means being raised and for moving the abutment member away from the leading article on the platform means upon lowering of the latter.

8. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said preventing means comprises elevator means for raising the group of articles immediately behind said latches, said elevator means raising said group of articles above the path of travel of said lugs.

9. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 8 wherein the elevator means raises the articles a distance less than the height of said articles so that the articles thereon prevent further advance of articles on said first conveyor.

10. Article feeding mechanism as in claim 8 wherein a depending surface is provided on the trailing side of the platform means, said surface being outwardly flared for preventing advance of articles remaining on said first conveyor and spacing such articles from the elevated articles to facilitate return of the elevated articles to the level of the first conveyor upon lowering of the elevator means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,878,919 3/1959 Jones 198-34 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM B. LABORDE, Examiner. 

1. ARTICLE FEEDING MECHANISM COMPRISING A FIRST CONVEYOR FOR FRICTIONALLY ADVANCING A LINE OF ABUTTING ARTICLES, LATCH MEANS RESTRAINING ADVANCE OF THE FOREMOST ARTICLE OF SAID LINE, A SECOND CONVEYOR ALIGNED WITH THE FIRST CONVEYOR AND HAVING SPACED LUGS MOVABLE ALONG A CLOSED PATH, A PORTION OF WHICH IS UPWARDLY INCLINED FOR ENGAGEMENT OF A LUG WITH THE TRAILING FACE OF AN ARTICLE SPACED TO THE REAR OF SAID FOREMOST ARTICLE TO SEPARATE THE GROUP OF ARTICLES BETWEEN IT AND THE FOREMOST ARTICLES FROM OTHER ARTICLES ON THE FIRST CONVEYOR AND ADVANCE SAID GROUP PAST SAID LATCH MEANS, THE RATE OF TRAVEL OF SAID LUGS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE RATE OF ADVANCE OF SAID FIRST CONVEYOR, MEANS FOR DETECTING A DIMINUTION IN THE LINE OF ABUTTING ARTICLES ON SAID FIRST CONVEYOR BELOW A POINT SUFFICIENT TO INSURE SEPARATION OF THE GIVEN NUMBER OF ARTICLES IN A GROUP PAST SAID LATCH MEANS, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO A SENSING OF SAID DETECTOR MEANS FOR DISPLAYING REMAINING ARTICLES OF SAID CONVEYOR LUGS A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT PATH OF TRAVEL OF SAID CONVEYOR LUGS A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THE LUGS FROM ENGAGING THE TRAILING FACE OF SUCH ARTICLES TO THEREBY PREVENT ADVANCE OF LESS THAN THE GIVEN NUMBER OF ARTICLES IN A GROUP PAST SAID LATCH MEANS AND MEANS FOR RETURNING SAID ARTICLES TO A POSITION FOR FEEDING FURTHER GROUPS OF ARTICLES WHEN THE LINE OF ARTICLES HAS AGAIN REACHED A PROPER LENGTH. 